Skip to main content

Holy Monday 2015

Here are the last two paragraphs from my sermon yesterday. If you would like to read the rest of the sermon please contact me.

“Holy Week, like the 40 days of Lent, forces us into deeper reflection about who we are as children of God, what we have done that has not been Christ like and where we might make changes.
We don’t like to think for very long about Jesus on the cross. The longer we focus on him being on the cross the more we start to realize we likely would have been part of the crowd that put him there. We are part of the crowd who put him there; we might not know that we have shouted “crucify him” but because of our sinfulness as humans, we have and we continue to shout it even unconsciously.

If I try to put myself into this story- I become torn, I want to be one of the ones waving the palm branch and shouting “Hosanna in the highest”. I want to be brave enough to pull my sword out when the guards come to arrest Jesus. I want to be better than Peter and not deny that I know who Jesus is. I want to be at the foot of the cross with Mary and help carry him to the tomb…I want to do all of those things.

But I’m scared to death that I wouldn't. I’m afraid that I could be one of the high priest saying “get rid of this trouble maker before he makes us all look bad”.  I’m afraid that I’ll deny him more than the 3 times Peter did. I’m scared that no matter what when the time came I would be shouting “crucify him!”

Then I remember that even if I would do those things- Jesus will remember me, Jesus will forgive me, and lead me back to where I’m supposed to be.


This week, we will all have moments where we are the spitting image of all of those who turned on Jesus, we will also, I hope, have moments where we will wait faithfully at the foot of the cross. I challenge you to put yourself deep into this Holy story this Holy Week, even if it makes you uncomfortable, especially if it makes you scared or upset. Stay with those feelings, dwell with them a little longer than you normally would. You won’t be alone as you walk this valley. Christ walks before you, Christ walks beside you, making the path straight. Amen.” 


Sermon preached Palm Sunday March 29,2015 at First Christian Church(Disciples of Christ) Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Prayer for the Week

picture from churchart.com My prayer this week is not my own but is a song entitled “The Blessing” by Celtic Woman. I spent the day at a spiritual retreat center and this is the song that kept coming to my mind. I wanted to share it with you (whoever reads this blog) In the morning when you rise I bless the sun, I bless the skies I bless your lips, I bless your eyes My blessing goes with you In the night time when you sleep Oh, I bless you while a watch I keep As you lie in slumber deep My blessing goes with you   This is my prayer for you There for you, ever true Each every day for you In everything you do And when you come to me And hold me close to you I bless you And you bless me too When your weary heart is tired If the world would leave you uninspired When nothing more of love's desire My blessing goes with you   When the storms of life are strong When you're wounded, when you don't belong When...
2 comments
Read more

Words from the Board...Bulletin Board that is

I have a bulletin board hanging on my office wall; it has various things thumb tacked to it. At some point each of the things hanging there were important to me. I suppose since they are still hanging there even after making a 740 mile move cross country, they are still important. The things hanging on this board vary in shape, size, meaning, and appearance. A Chalice sun catcher, a map of the church, several cards from family and friends, a picture of my paternal grandparents in front of the "Arc de Triumph" during WWII, my father’s obituary, the preaching schedule, and a couple crosses…just to name a few. When I am sitting at my desk, this bulletin board is on my left; every time I glance at it the same thing catches my eye. I am always drawn to the same card. I believe I received this card at my Ordination and if memory serves I received three or four of this same card that day. The card reads; “Be who you are. Do what you love. Make a difference. Change the world.” ...
2 comments
Read more

Re-Start Your Engine!!

No this is not a tribute to NASCAR Racing, which I know started the beginning of February sometime but I still can’t get into. (That is another blog for another time I suppose!) Have you ever gotten in your vehicle, turned the key, and have NOTHING happen? When I say NOTHING I mean-NOTHING- no turn over, no clicking, NOTHING!   I guess it happens (even with routine maintenance) that the starter stops working! When the starter doesn’t work-nothing else does either. Here are a few questions for you to ponder- Is the “starter” out in your faith? Does it seem like you can never figure out what is wrong or why things happen the way they do? Do you want to scream “How can this be happening?” more than “Thank you God for the blessings in my life!!”? Do you want to start your spiritual engine (so to speak)? ************************ If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can’t promise quick fixes or miracle cures but I can offer the following reflection from my own life when I ...
1 comment
Read more